Review by Neal Newman
June 25, 2023
The best way to introduce LETTIE by Boo Killebrew, now playing at People’s Light, is to introduce the people.
After seven years, Lettie (Danielle Skraastad) has just been released from prison. Her traumatic childhood was peppered with drugs, alcohol, and impulsive decisions. She says, “I could never be a child, and now I cannot be an adult.” There’s a saying that “when a man goes to prison, he loses his freedom. When a woman goes to jail, she loses her children.” Lettie quite unreasonably imagines that she will reunite with her children, who haven’t seen her in seven years. But almost immediately, she flunks out of her job training program and is thrown out of her shelter for violating the rules. Killebrew does not attempt to whitewash this unlikeable, foul-mouthed woman who is a victim of the prison system. Actress Skraastad is similarly unlikable, but by maintaining her desire to make a better life for everyone, she wins the audience’s sympathy in what is eventually a moving performance.
Also fascinating is her younger sister Carla (Teri Lamm), who carefully personifies the family dynamic of the younger sibling becoming a people pleaser because the older sibling is constantly acting out. She has countered her disappointment with religion, not to mention taking in Lettie’s children, especially since she cannot have children herself. At first, she seems severe and unrelenting, but actress Lamm uncovers many layers of complexity and growth as the play progresses.
Carla’s husband, Frank (Kevin Bergen), is equally religious and somewhat prejudiced against minorities. He does not want the coarse Lettie in his family’s life. He also resents that society gives Lettie a second chance by offering job training and a place to live. He has just lost a decades-long factory job and is unqualified for a new job because of the developing technology. He fears losing his house. Actor Bergen wins the audience’s affection through his eventual maturation.
Lettie’s children, River, the older son (Jacob Orr), and daughter by different a different man Layla (Bryanna Martinez-Jimenez) have their problems. River is monosyllabic and disaffected. He seems unwilling to communicate with anyone. One of the highlights of the evening is when actor Orr finally lets loose from years of submerged anger. “You know why I never call her Mom. That’s the word I hate the most.” The daughter, the typical younger sibling, tries to assuage the anger with good acceptance.
Melanye Finister is effective as another released felon who tries to befriend Lettie and eventually assists in her development.
The playwright skillfully uses this theme: Everyone expects more than they eventually receive to portray family, acceptance, and ultimately love.
The power of the performance owes much to director Abigail Adams who skillfully stages this multi-scene work on the small Steinbright Stage. Designer Daniel Zimmerman inventively suggests the many locations with simple stage areas representing different parts of the town. Lighting designer Dennis Parichy adds to the many different moods and appropriate music by Lee Kenny.
This character-driven 90-minute play will demonstrate much discussion after the curtain falls. It’s a grueling but rewarding experience and is necessary in today’s world.
A word needs to be said about the 90-minute play. Not long ago, a ticket-buying audience would not stand for such a short evening. Today’s audiences welcome a shorter experience, and most modern playwrights comply. No, this is not a LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, GETTING OUT, or even the TV series RECTIFY, which deal with the same complex issues in a lengthy, more detailed fashion. But I maintain that Killegrew’s simple statement succeeds at what it set out to do.
RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes with no intermission.
LETTIE runs through July 13 at People’s Light, 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA. Tickets can be obtained at peopleslight.org or by calling 610-644-3500.